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PurposeThis paper aims to examine the effect of setting up a separate risk management committee (RMC) on the performance of listed companies in Malaysia's consumer goods sector. The study considers several firm characteristics as control variables to influence the establishment of the RMC, such as firm size and leverage.Design/methodology/approachThe sample comprises 169 observations throughout a nine-year time frame starting from 2010 to 2018. The current study used a dichotomous variable of "1" to represent a listed company that establishes a separate RMC and "0" as otherwise. The data analysis is based on a static panel data technique, which utilised the fixed effects model (FEM) and random effects model (REM).FindingsThere is a significant positive relationship between a separate RMC and Tobin's Q which suggests that the establishment of a separate RMC that consists of a majority of independent non-executive directors would significantly improve the firm's performance. The current work supports agency theory which suggests that independent non-executive directors can enhance the transparency of corporate boards as they improved the firm's compliance with the disclosure requirements.Originality/valueProper risk management and internal control are critical aspects of a company's governance, management and operations that can influence a firm's performance. The empirical evidence contributes to the knowledge of corporate governance within the context of a RMC's role in monitoring a company's risk management framework, policies and its implementation. The formation of a separate RMC as a board committee will help to enhance the effectiveness of the risk oversight role of the BOD.

The Malaysian government continues to invest heavily in computing and Internet resources in the belief that the Internet can improve the academic performance of students, offer e-learning for undergraduates, and provide the flexibility of distance learning for adult students. The use of the Internet and Facebook for educational purposes has been a topic of high interest among researchers in recent years. In Malaysia, Internet access is relatively easy, fast, and affordable. It is also a valuable source of information. Research shows that online consumers in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines are the most likely to have engaged on social media sites such as Facebook. For this very reason, students must be well-equipped with the requisite skills to exploit to the full the benefits of the Internet and Facebook by the time they graduate. Such skills would certainly help to enhance their employability in the competitive labour market. This study seeks to examine relevant literature regarding the extent of Internet and Facebook use among university students. The literature review will also explore how the use of the Internet and Facebook has impacted the academic performance of university students.

The SERVQUAL instrument, which measures customer perceptions of service quality, is applied to retail financial institutions in Brisbane. As in the original SERVQUAL study, five factors emerged: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. Consumers' experiences failed to match their expectations on virtually all dimensions. The study also found some differences in consumer perceptions of service quality based on age, gender and type of financial institution, suggesting that more could be done by financial institutions to segment their markets.

INTRODUCTION: In the primary care setting, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) overutilisation often stems from the failure to discontinue prophylaxis treatment prior to tertiary care discharge and consider step-down therapy following discharge. Long-term PPI use can result in potential drug-related problems and unnecessary drug expenditure. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacist-structured review in reducing inappropriate PPI prescriptions and estimate the potential cost saving. METHODS: This non-randomised controlled study was conducted for 16 weeks at 17 government health clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. Eligible patients attending the outpatient pharmacies of intervention clinics were recruited consecutively and their consent was obtained. A structured review of PPIs was performed in which pharmacists identified patient demographics, indications and the length of PPI therapy using a PPI intervention form. Recommendations were discussed with physicians before prescription changes were made and documented. Moreover, standard management was conducted in the control clinics. RESULTS: A total of 568 patients with prescriptions containing PPIs were sampled, with a total of 284 patients being placed into the control and intervention groups, respectively. Compared to the control group, inappropriate PPI utilisation in the intervention group significantly decreased from 79.9 to 30.4% (p<0.05). The changes to PPI prescriptions observed in the intervention group included: stop PPI therapy (30.8%), step-down therapy (22.9%), start substitution therapy (15.9%) and no change (30.4%). The physicians' acceptance rate for pharmacist intervention was 67.8%. A 66.1% reduction in monthly PPI pill count and a 72.0% reduction in monthly medication expenditure (RM44.85/patient/year) were observed. CONCLUSION: The pharmacist-structured review was effective in increasing appropriate PPI utilisation and led to substantial cost savings.